BJP rally in Mumbai: Amit Shah wants Shiv Sena to stay in alliance; updates

Marking the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP's) 38th foundation day, the party on Friday organised grand celebrations in Mumbai, with BJP President Amit Shah in attendance. Addressing the gathering, Shah said the countdown to the Lok Sabha elections 2019 had begun. At a time when it is either directly or indirectly in power in 21 states, BJP decided to dedicate its day-long effort to party workers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with BJP workers of five Lok Sabha constituencies and with the presidents of the party's 734 district units on Friday on the occasion of the party’s 38 foundation day, a BJP statement said.

The five Lok Sabha constituencies chosen are New Delhi, North East Delhi, Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh, North Central Mumbai and Saran in Bihar. Their MPs are Meenakshi Lekhi, Manoj Tiwari, Anurag Thakur, Poonam Mahajan and Rajiv Pratap Rudy, respectively. The interaction comes amid an acrimonious slugfest involving the BJP and the Opposition, especially the Congress, over a variety of issues, including the ongoing deadlock in Parliament and Dalit protests. Provision has been made for their comfortable stay, with food packets and water supply during the entire duration of their halt in Mumbai.